Microsoft 'Still Learning' With Xbox One Microtransactions

In an interview with Kotaku, Microsoft VP Phil Spencer discussed the future of microtransactions on Xbox One and what you can do about them.

"I want to be able to learn from what we put in," Spencer said. "So let's make sure we are crafting the game and the analytics so we can see what the consumers, the gamers, like and don't—if you assume buying habits are a reflection of what people like. So that we can craft the experience better for the gamer."

Though the Xbox One only just released on November 22, there are already plenty of games offering digital goods in exchange for real money. Ryse lets you purchase health and execution upgrades for gold, though doing either never feels necessary to complete the game. Fighters can be bought in Killer Instinct, as can cars in Forza Motorsport 5, where your purchases feel more important.

With wildly different approaches to in-game purchases, it feels like a standard system hasn't yet been figured out. Spencer said, "We're still learning."

"It's easy to say something like, 'I'll never allow somebody to buy the win of the game, I won't let them buy victory,' but that's kind of a trite answer, Spencer said. "I'd say, 'Yeah, I guess I have that line, that [we wouldn't have] "Pay five bucks and get 1000 achievements" or something stupid like that.' I'm always pushing against that. But, in reality, that's not what the gamers are looking for. They're usually looking for customization and their gameplay style opening up."

Though microtransactions have long been a standard in mobile and PC gaming, where games are often cheap or free to play, they're relatively new to the console scene, where most games are $60. For now, the system is malleable, meaning your purchases—or your lack of purchases—will send a strong message.